Malaria epidemic in Baniyani village, District Farrukhabad (U.P.)

Many deaths were recorded in village Baniyani of Talgram PHC of District Farrukhabad, U.P. during August to November 1991, which is the malaria transmission season in this area. Integrated measures, like one-round spraying of DDT and HCH, six-round fogging of malathion and six-time application of Baytex in mosquito breeding sites, were adopted by the Health Department of the U.P. government to avert an epidemic. Investigations carried out by the Malaria Research Centre during November and December 1991 showed low mosquito densities and larval positivity but very high incidence of malaria in the village. No malaria case was recorded by the surveillance worker of the Health Department of the state government before the outbreak of the disease. However, high slide falciparum rate (51.57), child parasite rate (40.0), infant parasite rate (66.66) and spleen rate (82.90) in the village clearly indicated hyperendemic conditions in the area and hence deaths recorded in the village during the malaria transmission period could be due to malaria only. Major factors responsible for the deaths due to malaria in the village were poor surveillance, faulty diagnosis, and low literacy and socio-economic status of the villagers.